Bowling alley



R. A. GREEN BOWLINGAALLEY Dec. 26, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1957 NHP xTN XM l I.//Y l MHHHHHHHHHHVIHINIPUHHHWHVIPHHH N Illlwll |||||||H|l JullldlllsA EE rILILI f /l/ m IR.-

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.WWII IUI MM I 1\NN )2 R. A. GREEN BOWLING ALLEY Dec. 26, 1961 Filed April 50, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 14 orneyS R. A. GREEN BOWLING ALLEY Dec. 26, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 30, 1957 /NVENTU/z. ROBERT A. GREEN MLM/M no. b HNEV E. E

R. A. GREEN BOWLING ALLEY Dec. 26, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 50, 1957 forneys R. A. GREEN BOWLING ALLEY Dec. 26, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 30, 1957 /NVE/VTQ.

ROBERT A. GREEN mlmh IIHII By www United States PatentO This invention relates to improvements in bowling Valleys and is especially concerned with structure suitable for outdoor use.

A principal object of the present inventron 1s to provide a bowling alley having no vel lane structure and supporting means therefor, facilit; ting rapid assembly and v reduction in cost.

Another object is to provide a bowling alley having prefabricated lane floor structure for outdoor use whlch, when assembled, provides a true, even bowling surface and which is resistant to warping or buckling.

More particularly, objects of the invention are to provide a bowling lane iloor structure which is formed of laminated sectional parts associated with bracket means which permit lateral and longitudinal adjustment of said parts as well as vertical movement for properly positioning the parts in the installation thereof and for allowing expansion and contraction of the lane'upon change in temperature and humidity conditions; to provide key means engageable between the lane sections for maintain- `ing said sections in coplanar relationship; and to provide locking means for the lane sections which tightly hold the sections in end to end relationship and which may be used in disassembly of the lanes for `forcing said sections apart.

Another object is to provide a novel form of outdoor bowling alley which may be closed to protect the inner area from adverse weather.

Another object is to provide a form of bowling alley construction having improved Ventilating and drainage means for outdoor use.

A further object is to provide ball return and gutter means employing elongated bars mounted in parallel relation to the lanes by novel bracket support and saddle t means.

The invention is embodied in a structure comprising a bowling alley especially suited for outdoor use wherein the `leys or lanes are more or less exposed to the weather. `In the illustrated embodiment, spaced building structures are provided for covering the delivery and spectator end and the pit end, and extending between these building structures is a roof which covers the lane portions to protect them principally from the sun. The lane arrangement is the same as in conventional bowling alleys comprising gutter means along each longitudinal side of the lanes and ball returns serving pairs of lanes. A concrete `base is utilized for supporting the lanes and associated structure, and thelanes, together with the gutter and ball return means, are supported on the-base by brackets having novel features of adjustment to be described hereinafter.

The lanes are formed of sections o-f laminated panels which may comprise wooden and/or fibrous sheet material plies. Such laminated sections reduce to a minimum the expansion and contraction of the lanes upon changing temperature or humidity conditions. The lane floor sections are prefabricated and are easily assembled at the bowling alley site, and, in the arrangement thereof, a center section is anchored in a fixed position and longitudinal expansion and contraction is permitted in opposite directions from the center.

The invention is by 11o means limited to outdoor or partially covered alleys. Many of the novel features of Vdelivery portion or approach 2l ICC construction may be employed -to advantage in indoor alleys.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the 1nvention may take other forms, and that all such modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims which will occur to persons skilled in the art are included in the invention.

In the drawings:

, FIGURE l is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of the present bowling alley;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the alley;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view at the delivery end of the alley, taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE l; Y

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view at the pit end of the alley, taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5*-5 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on Vthe line 6-6 of FEGURE l;

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of bracket means forming a part of a ball return and gutter;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the bracket of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 8a is a `fragmentary front elevational view of a bracket forming a part of gutter means only;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a bar supporting saddle;

FIGURE l0 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line ltl-lo of FIGURE l, showing, in particular, means for supporting the lanes and means for connecting a pair of lane sections together;

FIGURE ll is a sectional view taken on the line 11- l of FIGURE l0;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional View taken on the line l2' l2 of FIGURE l0 showing the lane supporting means in elevation;

FIGURE '13 is an elevational view taken on the line lli-I3 of FIGURE l2, showing, in particular, bracket means lfor connecting the lane sections with transverse supporting rails;

FIGURE 14 is an elevational view similar to FIGURE 13 but showing a slightly different bracket;

FIGURE l5 is an exploded view showing connecting and supporting structure for the lane sections;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary perspective View of a modied form of lane section; and

FIGURE 17 is a plan view showing joint structure of wood strips in the lane section of FIGURE 16.

Referring rst to FIGURES l and 2, the bowling alley of the present invention in general comprises a building structure I9, housing a spectators section 2t) and the of alleys or lanes 22, and a building structure 23 housing a pit 24, these two building structures having suitable entrance means. A roof structure 18, coextensive with the roof of building portion 23 and overlapping the roof of building portion 19, extends between these two buildings and is intended primarily to shield the alleys from the sun, although it would also serve to keep rain off thealleys. The building portion 19 has a vertical front wall portion 25 projecting above and below the roof of said building portion. The wall 25 extends up to the roof 18 and has openings intermediate this roof and the roof of building 19 for ventilation purposes and extends downwardly to provide a partial upper closure for the alley end of building 19. Building portion 23 has a vertically slidable door 26, FIGURE 4, adapted to move downwardly into engagement with the alley or` lane structure for closing the front of this building portion if necessary, the sliding door section having a rubber seal 2"/ to prevent damage to the lane surface and keep out water. A plurality of closely spaced vertical slats 3i), FIGURE 4, are mounted above the alleys or lanes just forward of the position of the pins to shield the pit end from the view of the bowlers and spectators. The lane area intermediate the two buildings 19 and 23 is closed at the sides by suitable fence means 31 shown in FIGURE 2, which, in a preferred structure, extend up to the bottom of wall 25 whereby Ventilating areas are provided between the fences and the roof I8. In bad weather, these Ventilating openings, as well as the Ventilating openings in the wall Z5, may be glassed in by suitable removable or hinged sash.

The bowling alley structure is supported on a concrete slab base 32 which, as seen in FIGURE 3, is stepped, having a raised oor area 33 for the spectators section, a raised support surface 34 at the opposite or pit end, FIGURE 4, and intermediate stepped surfaces 36 which provide support for the lanes intermediate their ends, these stepped portions being inclined toward the center, as seen in FIGURE 2, for carrying moisture to a V-shaped gutter 39 communicating with drain pipe means 37. The

concrete slab base extends beyond the sides of the lane portion to form raised sidewalks 3S, FIGURES l, 5 and 6, intermediate the two building portions, the cross sectional configuration of the base being channel-shaped. Thus, the depressed surfaces 36 are surrounded by raised portions of the foundation to drain all rain water on the exposed central portion of the alleys into pipe 37 and keep the pit 24 dry.

At the delivery end of the lanes are the usual ball racks 42, FIGURE 3, and the foul line 43, FIGURE 1, and at the pit end is the ball chute 44, FIGURE 4.

Each of the lanes has a plurality of sections 4S which are individually supported on the concrete slab base 32 andwhich comprise, preferably, a laminated floor panel, FIGURES 10 and 12, having beveled ends 46, the bevel angle being exaggerated in FIGURE l0. The panels are composed of cross-banded edge grain core members 47, 48 and 49 comprising small boards of random length, the centermost core layer 48 having its boards disposed transversely of the lanes and the core layers 47 and 49 having their boards disposed longitudinally of the lanes. The surface plies 50 are preferably treated hard fiberboard panelsv having unusual hardness and resistance to moisture penetration. Each surface layer 50 may comprise two thicknesses of such hard berboard panels providing a balanced construction in the composite panel 45. Thus the top and bottom surface layers have equal expansion and contraction and either surface may be placed uppermost.

Prior to installation, the laminated lane sections 45 are coated preferably on all surfaces with a suitable waterproof substance such as varnish or a plastic coating whereby no damage will result to the lanes from weather elements or from moisture conditions. As seen in FIG- URES 3 and 4, the lanes are supported above the slab 32 in laterally spaced relation to provide an open ventilation space 51 under the lanes which extends into the pit 24 atthe one end and which communicates through the oor into the spectators section at the opposite end, this latter opening being covered by a Ventilating grating 52. To permit longitudinal expansion and contraction of the lanes, the grating 52 is merely seated on the surface 33 and the lanes or it is secured to only one of these portions, but not to both.

'Ihe lane sections 45 are provided with keyway slots 54, FIGURES l0 and 15, in the ends thereof, and adapted to engage these slots 54 in the assembled position of the lanes are metal key plates 55 which accurately maintain the lane sections in the same horizontalplane so that the upper surfaces are coextensive to form a smooth, true surface. Referring to FIGURES 12 and 13, plastic side plates 58 are secured on the lane sections. These plates extend slightly below the lower surface of the alley and are beveled at -their bottom to form a drip edge 59, FIGURE l2, whereby water draining off the alleys will drip off the edge rather than seep along the bottom of the alley. When it is desired to invert a section 45, the side plates 58 are removed and re-attached in proper position.

The sections 4S are firmly clamped together at their tcp edges by means of a turnbuckle 60, FIGURES l0 and l5, the screws of which are arranged to tension flanges 61 of brackets 62 secured to the bottom of the lane sections. The fianges 6I have bottom slots 64 for receiving the screws of the turnbuckle which have eyes for cross pins whereby in clamping two lane sections together the cross pins 65 engage the back side of the flanges 61 and are capable of drawing the sections together.

Transverse supports or rails 68, which may comprise a pair of 2 x 4 timbers adhesively secured together, support sections 45 and, in turn, these rails are supported on the concrete base slab 32 by brackets 70. As best seen in FIGURE 15, the rails have a pair of notches 71, and also have vertical slots 72 opening into the grooves. Seated on the bottom of the notches 71 are plate washers 73, each having a square hole '74, the holes 74 being adapted to overlie the slots 72 when the washers are in place. Rails 68 may be located close to the ends of sections 45 and brackets 62 may extend into notches 71, as shown in FIGURES 10 and l2.

Brackets 7d comprise a pair of identical L-shaped members 77 adapted to be clamped together by bolts '78 in vertical slots 79, the two bracket parts being clamped together with one of them in inverted relation and the horizontal flanges of each extending in the same direction. Each of these bracket parts has a row of adjustment holes 81 which is slightly offset to one side so that with these parts inverted relative to each other, the vertical rows of holes will be out of registry. To maintain the bracket parts in fixed position, in addition to the clamping effect accomplished by the bolts 78, a hole is drilled through one bracket part at any one of the holes 81 in the other bracket part after the desired height adjustment is obtained and a pin 82 inserted therein, this pin preferably having a driving fit in the holes. As the vertical rows of holes in the two bracket parts are offset laterally from each other, height adjustment of one bracket part relative to the other can be accomplished as many times as there are total holes in both the bracket parts, and, if desired, still more holes may be drilled to provide additional height adjustment.

The rails 68 are secured to the brackets 70 by bolts 84 disposed through slots 72 in the rails 68 and slots 74 in the plate washers 73, a suitable aperture 8S being provided in the brackets 70 for receiving anchor bolts 86 which secure the brackets to the base. The bolts 86 are embedded in the slab by an explosive stud driver wellknown in the art. The slots 72 permit lateral adjusting movement of the lane sections upon installation thereof. Preferably, the rails 68 are each supported by a pair of the brackets 70, and, referring to FIGURES 3, 4 and 6, the set of brackets at each station along the alley preferably is turned ninety degrees relative to the brackets at adjacent stations to provide a stii support in both lateral and longitudinal directions.

Interconnection between the rails 68 and the sections 45 is provided by angle brackets 88, illustrated in FIG- URES 12-15. Referring rst to FIGURES l2 and 13, these brackets are secured to the ends of the rails 68 by screws 89 extending through one arm thereof. The other arm of the brackets 88 is parallel to the bottom surface of a lane section 45 and is engaged by a strap 90 secured to the under surface of said section by screws 91. The straps l9() have angular bends to form an offset 92 therein approximately equal to the thickness of the bracket arms. The offsets 92 are longer than the brackets are wide whereby the brackets and the straps can have relative movement in a horizontal plane longitudinally of the lanes, and furthermore, as seen in FIGURE 12, the straps 90 on opposite sides of the lane are secured a sutcient distance apart transversely so that there can be some relative transverse movement between the rails and lane sections. By means of such a slip joint structure, a positive interconnection against vertical movement is established but transverse and longitudinal movement of the lanes, due to expansion and contraction thereof, is permitted.

The FIGURE 13 strap 90 is used at all stations on all the sections 45 except the center section. In connection with this latter section, a strap 90a, FIGURE`14, is used having an offset 92a with a longitudinal dimension substantially the same as the width of the bracket 88 so that no relative movement is provided between the lane section and the rail 68 in a direction longitudinally of the alley. Similar to the straps 90, however, the straps 90a permit limited slidable movement of the brackets in a direction transversely of the alley. By means of such connections the center of the section 45 is anchored against longitudinal movement, and upon a change in humidity and temperature conditions wherein contraction and expansion take place, the lanes are free to expand or contract longitudinally by movement of the end portions toward or away from the central supports. Thus, the alleys may be said to have a floating support free of expansion and contraction strains which would otherwise tend to warp or buckle the alley surface. Wet

.or dry, the alley surface remains ilat and level at all times. After installation of the lanes, they are coated in a conventional manner to give the proper surface texture. p

, Referring now in particular to FIGURES 5, 7, 8 andv 9, means are shown which form the gutters and the ball `return track. Two types of supporting brackets 95 and 96 are utilized, and these brackets are spaced along the lanes to supportlongitudinal pipes 97 which form bearing surfaces for the ball, designated by the letter B in FTG- URE 5. A bracket 95 is shown in detail in FIGURES 7 and 8 and comprises a pair of parts 100 and 101 provided with registering slots 102 for receiving clamping bolts 103, the bracket part 101 being flanged for receiving anchor bolts 104 driven in the base 32. Similar to the brackets 70, olset rows of holes 105 are provided in the bracket parts for receiving pins 106 which engage in a'hole 105 and a hole drilled in the other bracket part during installation for locking the plates positively together. g

The bracket part 100 has a T-shaped head 108 having apertures 107, FIGURE 7, and this head supports saddle .members 109 comprising a semi-cylindrical body portion .110 and an integral mounting plate 111 having apertures 112 for receiving bolts 113 engageable in apertures 107 in the head 108 for mounting the saddle members on the brackets. As seen in FIGURE 7, the saddle members 109 support a pair of pipes 97 on the top of the head 108 to form a ball return track and a pair of pipes 97 4on opposite sides of the head to form one track of the gutter, this head having inclined edge portions facilitating the mounting of the saddle members in an angular relation for holding lower or gutter pipes 97in a position wherein the highest point thereof is in the same plane as the top surface ofthe lanes. By such arrangement and proper spacing of the pipes from the side edges of the lanes, the ball tracks for the gutters comprise one pipe 97 and outside upper edges of the plates 58.

The brackets 96, FIGURES 5 and 8a, have a construction similar to the brackets 95 with the exception that the upper end thereof supports onlv one or two saddles 109, the number of saddles on said brackets depending upon the location of the brackets, i.e., two saddles are spianata usedv on brackets disposed between a pair of lanes and vone saddle is used on'brackets disposed at the sides of the bowling alley. More particularly, a lane adjacent the side of the structure has on one side thereof a bracket 96 with a single saddle member 109 which, together with the adjacent top edge ofthe lane, forms the gutter for this one side. On the opposite side of this alley is a bracket having four pipes supported thereon comprising a ball return track for this lane and the next lane and comprising gutters for the two lanes. Between the second and third lanes is a bracket 96 which forms gutters therefor and, by this arrangement, gutters are formed on each side of the lanes and a ball return track is disposed between every pair of lanes across the structure. Y

It may be desirable to provide a guard rail supported on the brackets 96 which projects in a plane above the gutter tracks to prevent a ball from jumping over the lthe alley adjacentthe sidewalks 38 thebrackets may support an upright saddle for the guard rail and an an gular saddle for a gutter track and intermediatetwo `alleys the brackets may support an upright saddle for the guard rail and the two oppositely directed saddles for the gutter tracks.

The ball return tracks lead to the ball racks 42, FIG- URE 3, and the gutters terminate adjacent the foul line. At the delivery portion 21 ofthe alley, the spaces between the lanes 22 and between outer lanes and the walk 38 are closed by panels` 115, FIGURE 6, having side tongues 116 engaging tongues 117 onthe lanes. These panels are supported principally by brackets 70, the structure of which has been described. The transverse dirnension of the panels is such that a small clearance exists between vertical portions of the joint between the panels and the lanes to allow transverse expansion of these parts. AV suitable filler may be inserted in these joints to close any gap in the floor surface.

The longitudinal pipes 97 and saddle members-109 may be formed of a plastic such as a rigid, polyvinyl chloride and the pipes are held in said saddle members by a suitable adhesive joint such as a liquid plastic weld material painted on the seat surface of the saddles. In a preferred arrangement, joints in the pipes 97 are formed Vat the saddle members and to formsuch a joint, the ends of the pipes are abutted together and adhesively joined to the saddles to produce an even track surface.

It is apparent thatl the structure of the present bowling alley and the method of assembling the same facilitates rapid construction at a low cost. The lane structures themselves, which in conventional construction comprise the intricate and difficult part of therinstallation are, in the present invention, accomplished by prefabricated sections manufactured in the shop in a size which can be handled and shipped conveniently and merely assembled at the alley location. The lane structure and its mounting arrangement will withstand varying temperature and humidity without damage thereto. Although the tvpe of laminated structure used, which was described hereinbefore, has very little lateral or longitudinal expansion and contraction upon variation of temperature and humidity, such dimensional changes are, nevertheless, accommodated bv the brackets 88 and straps 90 and 90a. Thus, the lanes have a floating support and will always lie in a true plane Vwithout danger of warping either laterallv or longitudinally. During unfavorable weather conditions the sliding door 25 at the pit end of the alley may be closed to keep out rain or the like from the pins and pin setting mechanism and the openings at the sides of the alley and in the wall 25 may be closed.

The various supporting brackets 70, 9S and 96 may be re-adjusted in height when the need arises by driving out pin 82 ory 166 and drilling a new hole in register with a dierent hole Sl or 105 to receive the pin in a new position. A damaged section 45 is easily replaced. After removing straps 90 on the damaged section and other sections on the same end of the lane, the turnbuckles ed are used as jacks to force the sections apart for removal of key plates S from the ends of the damaged section. This is done by placing pins 65 between the brackets and expanding the turnbuckle to jack the sections 4S apart. Suf- -cient free space is provided at both ends of the 1ranes to accommodate longitudinal movement of the sections for this purpose. When the panels 'are drawn together by the turnbuckles, the `beveled ends 4e insure that the upper corners will abut each other tightly without any crack or gap in the floor surface.

FIGURE 16 illustrates a modified form of transversely laminated lane section 45 having a single layer of random length maple strips f2.2. The random length strips 122 are end jointed by finger joints 123 and these strips are adhesively secured together edge to edge and end to end to form an integral unitary reversible panel section which is capable of being manufactured at a factory and then transported to the `alley site to form with other similar sections a bowling lane. Similar to the sections 45, the sections 45' have end keyway slots 54% for receiving aligning keys 55 therein. Although not shown on the drawings, the sections 45 may be provided. with` side drip plates 58 as illustrated in FIGURE 15 to protect the edges and prevent water from seeping along the bottom of the lane sections.

An important feature of the lane section embodiments illustrated is that if the top surface becomes worn or damaged, the sections may be turned over and the former bottom surface used as the bowling surface. When this is done the bottom surface is iirst sanded and properly finished, with the screw holes in said surface from the brackets 62 ,and straps 92 or 92a being plugged with hardwood. In order that the surface of the lanes may be even at the joints between sections, the keyway slots 54 are equally spaced between the surfaces of the sections.

Thus it is not necessary to replace a section until both surfaces are too badly worn or damaged for satisfactory restoration on the floor. The sectional removability feature also permits interchanging the positions of sections which get the most wear with other sections getting less wear and permits sections to 4be removed for factory restoration if desired. Sectional repair or replacement therebyreduces maintenance by obviating frequent resurfacing of the entire alley when only limited areas are in bad condition.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A bowling alley comprising a rigid Vfoundation eX- tending the length and width of said alley, a plurality of bowling lanes, means having transverse slip joints securing the mid-length portion of each lane against longitudinal movement on said foundation, and means having both longitudinal and transverse slip joints supportnig the remainder of each lane for transverse contraction and expansion and for longitudinal contraction and expansion of theA end portions of the lanes towardand away from the mid-length portions of the lanes.

2. A bowling alley comprising a monolithic concrete foundation having a Hoor area at one end and a pit at the opposite end, said foundation having a depressed area between said floor area and said pit separatedfrom said pit by a transverse raised portion, said depressed areaY draining into a transverse gutter intermediate said ends, a plurality of bowling lanes extending across said depressed area and said raised portion from said floor area to said pit, adjustable means supporting said lanes on the level of said floor-area, said lanes having open spaces therebetween and therebeneath in communication with each other for ventilation of said depressed area of said foundation and the under surface of the lanes, each lane comprising a plurality of prefabricated panels clamped together in end abutting relation, said supporting means having slip joint connection with said panels to accommodate expansion and contraction of the lanes, and means securing the central panel of each lane against longitudinal movement on said foundation, the end portions of each lane lbeing movable in said slip joints for longitudinal contraction and expansion toward and away from said central securing means.

3. A bowling alley comprising a foundation and a plurality of bowling lanes, each of said lanes comprising a plurality of panels disposed in end to end relation, the ends of said panels having undercut bevels and horizontal key slots, key plates in said slots, turnbuckles anchored to the undersides of adjacent panels for drawing said panels into firm abutment at their top edges, adjustable height brackets on said foundation, transverse rails on said brackets supporting said panels with edge portions of the panels overhanging the ends of the rails, angle brackets on the ends of said rails having horizontal flanges underlying said panels, and straps on the undersides of said panels underlying said flanges to provide slip joints 'between said rails and panels to accommodate expansion and contraction of said panels except on one of said rails at the mid-length of the lane, the panel on said one rail being secured thereto against longitudinal movement, said lanes having open spaces therebetween and being spaced above said foundation for ventilation of the undersides of said panels.

4. A bowling lane comprising a plurality of panels disposed end to end, releasable tension means connected between adjacent panels to hold the panels tightly together in end abutting relation, supporting means having longitudinal slip joint connection with said panels for supportingfthe panels on a foundation, and means securing a portion of an intermediate panel in the lane against longitudinal movement on said foundation, said panels being individually removable for replacement and for interchange with other panels in the lane to equalize the wear on all the panels when some panels receive more wear than others.

5. An outdoor bowling alley comprising a concrete foundation extending throughout the length and width of the alley, said foundation having a depressed portion intermediate its ends equipped with a transverse drainage gutter, a plurality of bowling lanes, adjustable height means supporting said lanes above said foundation with an underneath open space extending the length and width of said lanes between the underside of said lanes and said foundation, said lanes having open spaces therebetween communicating with said underneath open space, and said foundation including elevated sidewalks extending the length of the lanes on opposite sides of said foundation.

6. An outdoor bowling alley comprising a concrete foundation extending throughout the length and width of the alley, said foundation having a depressed portion intermediate its ends equipped with a transverse drainage gutter, a plurality of bowling lanes, adjustable height means supporting said lanes above said foundation with an underneath open space extending the length and width of said lanes between the underside of said lanes and said foundation, said lanes having open spaces therebetween communicating with said underneath open space, said foundation including elevated sidewalks extending the length of the lanes on opposite sides of said foundation, each of said lanes comprising a plurality of panels disposed end to end with the panels drawn tightly together by releasable tension means connected between adjacent panels, said supporting means having longitudinal slip joint connection with the panels and including means securing a portion of an intermediate panel in each lane against longitudinal movement on said foundation, said panels being individually removable and interchangeable with other panels in said lanes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Purnell July 3, 1934 Whelan Jan. 12, 1937 Tarof May 24, 1938 Birtles Nov. 29, 1938 Siegrist June 11, 1940 Debay July 23, 1940 Gremp et al. Nov. 10, 1942 Gremp et al Nov. 10, 1942 Somerville July 11, 1944 Smith Aug. 11, 1953 De Sherbinin Feb. 12, 1957 Grawey Apr. 16, 1957 Gay et al Apr. 23, 1957 Tofanelli Aug. 19, 1958 

